Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-02-11
ANECDOTES OF JOSH BILLINGS

Personal RemIn isoences of the Late Hu
morist, With Specimens Of His Fun.
philadelphia Times
was sitting down to lunch one mornin
at Delmonico's with literary friend when
there entered a gaant. tall man, with stoop
ing shoulders, slouching walk, iron-gra,
hair and pair of keen, bright eyes, VIII,
deposited himself heavily upon q chair a
the nearest vacant table My fr END touchec
my feet to direct my attention t, the ne W.
conner, AMI softly said: do you know
lings," he whispered. "Ill ask him to joir
u.s."
My friend arose, went to his table,
grasped his hand aud in another instant
was introduced to the author of a vast
amount of mis-spelt wisdom slows every
bone In your bodyF SAID Josh to my friend.
linen, turning to me, he said: Glad to see
you, sir. just arrived from England en-
Bring my outlet and coffee here" he went
on addressing the waiter, as he inser ted his
ong lean legs under our table.
Before l left New York l called on Josh
Billings with an album, and mo testify so
Ii tied his autograph He took it on his
knees gave his mouth a comical twist, and
wrote:
iSo 10 no uleI WHO H9U0 DIS QudrTol
just" BARD OF AVON.
"And four times he who gets his blow in
fust" ]. BILLINGS.
Josh was extremely fond of animals, and
had cat at his h use in Albany which he
gravely addressed as civilian" l sug-
gested that that was a dignitiei name for
FUSS as cats were usually called Tom or
Tip" or quick, short cognomen.
But that SPECIAL, swell, blue blooded
specimen of the feline race, / wish you to
know rejoine1 the humorist. RE emily,
poor fellow, hs has had fits, and since then
call him 'Fitz- William"
good story is told of the humorist being
thrown, on one occasion, among a batch of
students In a country town near New
Haven. He was tran ping along with a
rusty yellow dog, AMI entered the barroom
OF hotel for some -efre h nents A group
OF the Yale lads chancsd to be there on
frollc. and Immediately interviewed Bill
ling', whom they evidently mist ok for
farmer They inquired with affected in
terest after the health of his wife and chill
dren, and JOSH with counterfeited sim
plicity, gave them a graphic ,count of his
familS and farm.
"Of course you belong to the churchW
asked one or the boys.
Yes, the Lord be praisel, and my father
and grandfather before me-"
Now, suppose you woul1 not tall a
lie" said one of the students
Not for the world"
what will you take for thai dorr p,int.
ing to Josh's cur which was crouchmg be.
meath his chair
4 won't take twenty dollars for that
dog"
Twenty dollarsl Why, he's not worth
twenty cents"
Il assure you I would not take twenty
dollars for him"
Come, my friend" said the st udent,
who, with his companions, was bent on
having som, fun with the oil man. Now.
you say you won't tell lie for the worl /.
Let me see If you will not do it for twenty
dollars. IN give you twenty liars for
for your dog"
"Fll NOT take 1t
GU Will notf Herel let me ee il this
Will not tempt you to lie" addei he stu
Gent, pr oducing small bag of half dollars,
wnc- he built up into small piles on the
table. Josh was sitting by the table with
his hat in his hand, apparently uncon cerned.
There" added the student, there are
twenty dollars, all in silver; | will give
GU that for the ANIMAL Josh quietly
raised his hat to the edge OF the table, and.
as quick as thought, scraped all the money
into 1t except one half dollar, and then ex.
claimed:
u won't take your twenty doll ars! Nine
teen and half is as much as that dor is
worth; he Is our propertyP
A tremendous shout from his fellow-stu
tents clearly showed the wouli- be wag TIL
ne was completely sold and that he need
not LOOK for sympathy from that quarter,
20 he good-naturedly ackno wled ged himself
beaten.
1t was Josh who originated the phrase
hat Is now a national exures sion-s'The |
business eni Of wasp" and when he said
20 lady, 'it is better to be laughed at for
lot being married than to be unable to
augh because you are" it seems to me he
Uttered sentence, to use one of his own ex
preston, "bulging cut with frst-class wis.
iomn